Methods and systems for controlling rate and output of heat exchanger fluids

• US 20060112701A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Dykstra, Jason D.
• Application Number:
  US11/000,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20060112701A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/132
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 for compression type machines, plants or systems

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices are disclosed for controlling fluids parameters in a heat exchanger. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling a heat exchanger system may include a first controller and a second controller. Each controller may control an actuator associated with a parameter of the heat exchanger system. Each controller may include a feedback gain and a cross coupling gain. The cross coupling gain may cross couple the system inputs to the actuators. The parameters are the temperature and the mass flow rate. The heat exchanges fluids are the heat transfer fluid and the controlled fluid.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a desired first parameter of a controlled fluid in a heat exchanger system, comprising the steps of:

measuring a second parameter of the controlled fluid;

varying an input to a first parameter actuator as a function of the second parameter of the controlled fluid;

measuring the first parameter of the controlled fluid; and

varying the input to the first parameter actuator to reduce an error of the first parameter of the controlled fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired values of first parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

varying an input to a second parameter actuator as a function of the first parameter of the controlled fluid;

measuring the second parameter of the controlled fluid; and

varying the input to the second parameter actuator to reduce an error of the second parameter of the controlled fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired values of the second parameter.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

generating a first control signal from a first controller, wherein the first controller controls the first parameter actuator; and

generating a second control signal from a second controller, wherein the second controller controls the second parameter actuator.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

a first cross coupling gain couples an input of the first controller with an output of the second controller; and

a second cross coupling gain couples an input of the second controller with an output of the first controller.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a third cross coupling gain couples the desired first parameter with an output of the second controller.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback gain having an input being derived from a desired first parameter of the heat exchanger system.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the input to the first feedback gain is a function of the desired and measured first parameter.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second controller comprises a second feedback gain having an input being derived from a desired second parameter of the heat exchanger system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the input to the second feedback gain is a function of the desired and measured second parameter.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter of the controlled fluid is the temperature of the controlled fluid.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second parameter of the controlled fluid is the mass flow rate of the controlled fluid.

15. A method of maintaining a desired temperature of a controlled fluid in a heat exchanger system, comprising the steps of:

measuring a parameter of the controlled fluid;

varying an input to a temperature actuator as a function of the parameter of the controlled fluid;

measuring a temperature of the controlled fluid; and

varying the input to the temperature actuator to reduce an error of the temperature of the controlled fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired temperature.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the parameter of the controlled fluid is a mass flow rate.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

varying an input to a parameter actuator as a function of the temperature of the controlled fluid;

measuring the parameter of the control fluid; and

varying the input to the parameter actuator to reduce an error of the parameter of the controlled fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired values of the parameter.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

generating a first control signal from a first controller, wherein the first controller controls the temperature actuator; and

generating a second control signal from a second controller, wherein the second controller controls the parameter actuator.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

a first cross coupling gain couples an input of the first controller with an output of the second controller; and

a second cross coupling gain couples an input of the second controller with an output of the first controller.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein a third cross coupling gain couples the desired first parameter with an output of the second controller.

21. A method of maintaining desired parameters of a controlled fluid in a heat exchanger system, wherein the controlled fluid has one or more parameters, and the heat exchanger includes a heat transfer fluid having a parameter, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a first parameter of the controlled fluid; and

varying an input to a first actuator of the parameter of the heat transfer fluid as a function of an error of the first parameter of the controlled fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired values of the first parameter of the controlled fluid.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

measuring the second parameter of the controlled fluid; and

varying an input to a second actuator of the second parameter of the controlled fluid as a function of the second parameter of the controlled fluid.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

varying the input to the first actuator to reduce the error of the first parameter of the controlled fluid; and

varying the input to the second actuator to reduce an error of the second parameter of the controlled fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired values of the second parameter of the controlled fluid.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

generating a first control signal from a first controller, wherein the first controller controls the first actuator; and

generating a second control signal from a second controller, wherein the second controller controls the second actuator.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein:

a first cross coupling gain couples an input of the first controller with an output of the second controller;

a second cross coupling gain couples an input of the second controller with an output of the first controller; and

a third cross coupling gain couples the desired first parameter with an output of the second controller.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein:

the first and second parameters of the controlled fluid are respectively the temperature and the mass flow of the controlled fluid; and

the parameter of the heat transfer fluid is the temperature of the heat transfer fluid.

27. A method of maintaining desired parameters among a plurality of parameters of a heat exchanger system, wherein the heat exchanger system includes a first fluid having one or more parameters and a second fluid having one or more parameters, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a first parameter of the first fluid; and

varying an input to a first actuator of the second fluid as a function of an error of the first parameter of the first fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired values of the first parameter of the first fluid.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of:

measuring a second parameter of the first fluid; and

varying an input to a second actuator of the second parameter of the first fluid as a function of the second parameter of the first fluid.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of:

varying the input to the first actuator to reduce the error of the first parameter of the first fluid; and

varying the input to the second actuator to reduce an error of the second parameter of the first fluid indicative of the difference between the measured and desired value of the second parameter of the first fluid.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of:

generating a first control signal from a first controller, wherein the first controller controls the first actuator; and

generating a second control signal from a second controller, wherein the second controller controls the second actuator.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein:

a first cross coupling gain couples an input of the first controller with an output of the second controller;

a second cross coupling gain couples an input of the second controller with an output of the first controller; and

a third cross coupling gain couples the desired first parameter with an output of the second controller.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein:

the first and second parameters of the controlled fluid are respectively the temperature and the mass flow rate of the controlled fluid; and

the parameter of the heat transfer fluid is the temperature of the heat transfer fluid.

33. An apparatus for controlling one or more parameters of a first fluid or a second fluid of a heat exchanger system, wherein the heat exchanger includes a first fluid having one or more parameters and a second fluid having one or more parameters, the apparatus comprising:

a first controller controlling a first parameter of the heat exchanger system;

a second controller controlling a second parameter of the heat exchanger system; and

a first cross coupling gain coupling an input of the first controller and an output of the second controller.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a second cross coupling gain coupling an input of the second controller and an output of the first controller.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the first and second cross coupling gain include at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a third cross coupling gain coupling a desired first parameter of the heat exchanger and an output of the second controller.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the third cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback gain having an input being derived from a desired first parameter of the heat exchanger system.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the first feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the input to the first feedback gain is a function of the desired first parameter and a measured first parameter.

41. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second controller comprises a second feedback gain having an input being derived from a desired second parameter of the heat exchanger system.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the second feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the input to the second feedback gain is a function of the desired second parameter and a measured second parameter.

44. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

45. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a mass flow rate of the first fluid.

46. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a mass flow rate of the first fluid.

47. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first fluid is one of a heat transfer fluid and a controlled fluid.

48. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of a temperature of the second fluid.

49. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second parameter includes at least one of a temperature and mass flow rate of the second fluid.

50. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second fluid is one of a heat transfer fluid and a controlled fluid.

51. An apparatus for controlling one or more parameters of a heat exchanger system, wherein the heat exchanger includes a heat transfer fluid and a controlled fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a first controller controlling an input to a first actuator, wherein the first actuator controls a first parameter of the heat exchanger system;

a second controller controlling an input to a second actuator, wherein the second actuator controls a second parameter of the heat exchanger system; and

a first cross coupling gain coupling an input of the first controller and an output of the second controller.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 further comprising a second cross coupling gain coupling an input of the first controller and an output of the second controller.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the second cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

54. The apparatus of claim 51 further comprising a third cross coupling gain coupling the desired first parameter with an output of the second controller.

55. The apparatus of claim 54 wherein the third cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

56. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback gain having an input, wherein the input to the first feedback gain is derived from a desired first parameter of the heat exchanger system.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein the first feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the input to the first feedback gain is a function of the desired first parameter and a measured first parameter.

59. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the second controller comprises a second feedback gain having an input, wherein the input to the second feedback gain is derived from a desired second parameter of the heat exchanger system.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the second feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the input to the second feedback gain is a function of the desired second parameter and a measured second parameter.

62. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the first cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

63. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a mass flow rate of the controlled fluid.

64. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the second parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a mass flow rate of the controlled fluid.

65. A system for controlling one or more parameters of a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger includes a heat transfer fluid and a controlled fluid, the system comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a first actuator, wherein the first actuator controls a first parameter of the heat exchanger;

a second actuator, wherein the second actuator controls a second parameter of the heat exchanger;

a first parameter monitor;

a second parameter monitor; and

a controller for controlling the heat exchanger, the controller comprising;

a first controller controlling an input to the first actuator;

a second controller controlling an input to a second actuator; and

a first cross coupling gain coupling the first controller and the second controller.

66. The system of claim 65 further comprising a second cross coupling gain coupling an input of the first controller and an output of the second controller.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the second cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

68. The system of claim 65 further comprising a third cross coupling gain coupling the desired first parameter with an output of the second controller.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein the third cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

70. The system of claim 65 wherein the first controller comprises:

a first feedback gain having an input, wherein the input to the first feedback gain is derived from a desired first parameter of the heat exchanger system.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the first feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the input to the first feedback gain is a function of the desired first parameter and a measured first parameter.

73. The system of claim 65 wherein the second controller comprises a second feedback gain having an input, wherein the input to the second feedback gain is derived from a desired second parameter of the heat exchanger system.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the second feedback gain is one of a proportional (P) gain, proportional-integral (PI) controller gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller gain.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the input to the second feedback gain is a function of the desired second parameter and a measured second parameter.

76. The system of claim 65 wherein the first cross coupling gain includes at least one of a proportional (P) gain, a proportional-integral (PI) gain, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) gain.

77. The system of claim 65 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a mass flow rate of the controlled fluid.

78. The system of claim 65 wherein the second parameter includes at least one of a temperature and a mass flow rate of the controlled fluid.